Urban forest ecosystem structure and the function of the gulf coastal communities in the United States

In the United States it is estimated that 90 percent of the entire population now lives within the boundaries of what is defined as urban forest. Additionally, the total yearly economic value of urban forest services is more than $400 billion. To achieve sustainability of our rapidly expanding urban ecosystems and deliver the maximum level of benefits to the inhabitants, the urban forest must have healthy tree resources, comprehensive management and community-wide support. This paper presents the results of a collaborative study among SU, USDA-FS, NASA and The Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce pertaining to the sustainability of the urban forests of the Gulf Coastal areas in the United States. The urban forest ecosystem analysis of the Gulfport, Mississippi indicated a 30% tree canopy cover and nearly 25% green space in 2001. This represents 20% urban forest canopy loss since 1990. The current health of this urban forest is under pressure from urban sprawl and soil compaction. Urban forest ecosystem models and geographic information system (GIS) are being utilized to study the urban land use, urban forest health and urban sprawl in the Gulf Coast.